This is a necessary accessory that almost every car owner should use. This wonderful accessory - floor mats - most often, they produce three types - pile, polyurethane and rubber mats. When choosing car floor mats, you should think about which ones will suit your vehicle best.
Polyurethane is called car floor mats made of a material such as thermoplastic elastomer. This material contains polypropylene and flexible elastomers. The advantages of this accessory in comparison with rubber counterparts, purely technical, is the ability to reuse this material. The main disadvantage of such rugs is their rather high cost. With relatively identical physical and mechanical properties, rubber car mats are several times cheaper than polyurethane ones. It was believed that rubber car mats, which can be bought much cheaper than polyurethane, have some unpleasant odor, especially in the summer. Now, rubber car mats are produced in such conditions that you definitely will not feel any unpleasant odors during their use.
Rubber mats in the car, unlike their polyurethane counterparts, are made of sheet material and have one thickness. Their drawings, located on the reverse side, repeat the drawings on the front side. In addition, rubber car mats have spikes on the back that are anti-slip. You can find all the necessary technical inscriptions on the back of the rug.
Differences between rubber and polyurethane mats
Unlike rubber, polyurethane car floor mats are most often cut by hand with a knife, so their edges are often uneven. But their rubber counterparts - car interior mats - are molded as a whole, which can provide them with a more accurate and attractive appearance. In addition, rubber car mats have reinforced problem areas. They have increased thickness, reinforced sides. Polyurethane car floor mats will not be able to have such qualities; it is simply impossible to make such modifications on them. Polyurethane rugs are very light. They are quite smooth on the reverse side, as a result of which they move quite easily under the feet of passengers and the driver. Unlike models made of polyurethane, rubber car mats, which you can buy by placing an order on the website of the Mirdopov store, do not move under the feet of passengers and the driver. This is easily achieved due to the presence of various spikes on their reverse side.
Basically, polyurethane car mats have plastic, which will certainly change its original properties in the cold. Unlike polyurethane counterparts, rubber car mats do not tan in the cold, while maintaining elasticity. In winter, the use of such an accessory as rubber mats in the car interior makes it possible to create a normal atmosphere in the car, protect it from dirt, moisture, while not forming a skating rink under your feet.
Benefits of rubber car mats
Naturally, car floor mats made of rubber, due to the material from which they are made, have better elasticity, quickly restores its original shape after various kinds of deformations. But the analogues of rubber products - polyurethane car floor mats, are sometimes very problematic to straighten and give them signs of their original appearance after careless storage or an incorrect position in the car.
The main advantage of polyurethane mats is their range. And rubber car mats have a much wider range of advantages, while you can buy rubber car mats at a much lower price than their polyurethane counterparts.
The entire catalog of products for your car brand
Every car owner who has just bought a car is faced with the problem of choosing car accessories: alarms, crankcase protection, floor mats, trunk mats, deflectors, car covers, sometimes a towbar and a stainless body kit.
In this article, we tried to figure out which rugs are better and what to look for when choosing this type of product.
At the moment, there are about ten manufacturers of car mats and they all offer, in fact, the same thing. What is the difference anyway?
Let's first determine what rugs are. Needless to say, all car mats are divided into " interior mats" And " trunk mats". But let's go in order.
Interior carpets are universal And " under the model».
Universal mats, as a rule, are made of heavy rubber and do not have a side, and if there is a side, then the area of \u200b\u200bthe “trough” is so small that two legs are unlikely to fit there. The only advantage of these carpets is the low price. There are much more disadvantages: short service life, lack of sides, the need to cut the contour with scissors. Even if you cut out the contour, in any case, they are unlikely to lie as well as rugs. under the model».
If this does not suit you, then you need mats suitable for your car model.
There are two types of rugs under the model»: original And non-original.
original rugs, as a rule, are delivered from Europe, where there is no such mud and puddles as in Russia and, accordingly, they are not adapted to our realities, although they are made of high-quality rubber. The absence of a board and the high cost practically deprive this product of advantages. But if you are an adherent of textile (pile) carpets, then it is unlikely that non-original rugs will be able to compete in this segment, as they have rubber spikes and a fairly high moisture capacity.
Non-original rugs there are rubber, polyurethane And textile.
Rubber mats due to their low price and corresponding quality, they are inferior polyurethane. Typically, these mats are bought for low-budget car brands such as VAZ, Renault, Kia, Hyundai. The minus of such rugs: heavy weight, fragility in the cold, spoil the aesthetic appearance of the cabin, lie mediocre. Pros: high board (for lazy drivers) and low price.
Polyurethane mats(rubber) is the sales leader in this category of accessories. Despite the high cost, thousands of buyers appreciated their aesthetic and functional properties, namely:
- They have an elegant shape, exactly repeating the configuration of the floor of your car;
- Rugs have high enough sides that effectively protect the interior from dirt and moisture;
- There is a special tongue that completely covers the leg rest area;
- Rear mats are securely connected with a jumper;
- More than two times lighter than rubber mats;
- Easy to clean with water;
- Do not harden in the cold (-40 C);
- Completely devoid of a sharp, unpleasant odor;
- Possess the increased resistance to attrition (guarantee of six months);
- Do not dry out, do not warp and do not soften under the influence of sunlight and cold.
- Available in various colors: black, gray and beige.
Textile rugs(pile) are quite widely used by many motorists, they also have a number of pros and cons:
- Not able to hold a large amount of moisture, which leads to wetting of the car carpet
- Do not close the tunnel of the rear row of seats
- Dry for a long time after washing, an unpleasant smell may appear in the cabin
The interior of the car looks aesthetically pleasing
+ Moisture does not “roll” on the rug during maneuvers
+ Easy to take out and shake off
+ Low cost
Attention! Buy pile mats only on a rubberized basis, otherwise all the moisture will seep into the car carpet, which will lead to premature corrosion of your car body. The pursuit of cheapness can turn into an impressive cost for you in the future!
Floor mats there are plastic And polyurethane.
Usually, plastic mats are classified as economy class due to their low cost and low performance in practical terms. Their main task is to keep the luggage compartment carpet safe and sound from dirt and moisture.
Polyurethane trunk mats, unlike plastic ones, have a number of additional advantages: they exclude the movement of the contents of the luggage compartment during sharp maneuvers, thereby providing the so-called "anti-slip effect". Trunk mats made of polyurethane have a low weight and good plasticity, which allows you to remove them from the luggage compartment without much effort.
Choosing mats for your car should be based on your view of aesthetics, practicality and hygiene. Many people spend most of their lives in a car, and saving on carpets is hardly the right thing to do, since they take up more than half of the free surface space of your car.
Copyright © «INCOVER» 2009
Floor mats are the plebeians in the world of car accessories. Below them in status, perhaps, are “stinkers” - flavors. However, there are no less questions when buying rugs than, for example, with. In the cold season, it is slushy underfoot in the car, so we decided to test a dozen different sets according to our own methodology and understanding.
In order not to try to embrace the immensity, they settled on mass B-class cars - and chose Kia Rio as one of the most popular representatives of this group. Many buyers of such machines save just on regular rugs, leaving their purchase for later.
What was checked and how?
They should ideally lie down in the place allotted to them, without trying to curl up or hide under the pedal assembly. Therefore, we evaluated the shape and dimensions of the mats, checked their compatibility with standard mounts, tested them for slip resistance and other “restlessness”.
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Cleaning the rugs should not be accompanied by cleaning the interior and cleaning your own attire. It is not difficult to check this: you need to remove the dirty carpet from the passenger compartment and visually make sure that the dirt has “gone” with it. In addition, we subjected each specimen to a calibrated mechanical impact using a drill with an emery nozzle, simulating the impact of heels and studs, after which we assessed the qualitative and quantitative wear.
For Rio, we bought a dozen different sets of floor mats (each with four pieces). One of them was even ordered from an atelier specializing in such products: the masters took measurements in front of us and in about an hour they brought out the finished set. Well, let's compare manual work with factory products.
In addition, the floor under the rug must remain dry in any weather. The moisture test method depends on the type of mat. The rubber one “works” as a kind of basin, so we measured the height of the sides with it. A cloth rug is more like a washcloth-sponge - in such it is necessary to evaluate the ability to absorb water. To do this, we cut out a circle from each sample (all of the same size), soaked it in water and found out how much liquid (in grams) was absorbed.
Our ratings, as usual, are collected in the photo gallery. We opted for products No. 7 and No. 9: the first represents a group of rubber mats, the second - cloth. Based on the results of our expertise, you will be able to choose those rugs that you consider suitable for yourself.
ABSORBING ABILITY OF FABRIC CAR ROOTS
| Dough piece weight | The mass of the absorbed liquid |
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| before absorption | after absorption |
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| № 2 | AVS comfort VK-02 | |||
| № 3 | Auto-comfort | |||
| № 4 | Euromat 3d | |||
| № 5 | Klever | |||
| № 9 | car mat | |||
| № 10 | Autopilot | |||
| approximate price 1800 rub. (per set) Lie down on the floor normally. Places for hooks are not provided, because this is a universal product. The platform for resting the left leg is without a slot, although there is a marking. The sides are low: only 10 mm. The universal solution, as often happens, turned out to be not the best. | approximate price 130 rub. (per couple) It is difficult to call a product a rug. Rather, it is an addition, a bedding. No wear resistance. But water, oddly enough, absorbs no worse than many. It makes sense to use such "blotters" on top of the main rugs in the boggiest time of the year. |
| approximate price 890 rub. (per set) The universal floor mat was purchased from the auto parts department of a large chain store. Like everything universal, it doesn’t fit a particular car quite well. When checking wear resistance, it was rubbed to holes almost instantly. Water absorbs satisfactorily. | approximate price 4800 rub. (per set) The hooks do not match the markings on the rug. The mat was sold as “for Solaris”, but the sellers convinced that it would fit. Indeed, the rug lays down normally. Wear resistance is frail: the pile scattered instantly, and the foam rubber did not show any resistance. Water absorbs extremely reluctantly. Didn't like it in every way. | approximate price 2010 rub. (per set) Does not cover the area for resting the left leg. The hooks stuck well. Provided with a polymer bearing. Wear resistance is good, but the mat absorbs water at a C grade. |
| approximate price 1640 rub. (per set) The polyurethane mat lay frankly poorly. The holes for the hooks must be pierced by yourself. Fixation is irrelevant. It is almost impossible to remove the mat to calmly pour out the accumulated water. The height of the sides is 20 mm, but they are poorly molded, and therefore there is little sense from them. | 7. Seintex (with high sides) 9. Car mat 9. Car mat approximate price 4600 rub. (per set) Indposhiv! Made to order according to measurements taken from the salon. And there are holes for hooks. For any rare, even right-hand drive, car, suitable mats are obtained. Rubber based. They can sew a heel on the driver's mat, sew a carpet in the trunk or, say, embroider a funny picture. Wear resistance is excellent! The undisputed leader in absorbency. In general, the champion among fabric rugs. But - expensive. | approximate price 2390 rub. (per set) Stood in place just fine. Hooks don't get in the way. There is a cutout for the handle. Wear resistance is good. It absorbs water moderately. |
A car is a complex system of nodes, gears and electrical circuits. Modern models are more reminiscent of ultra-complex computers than the old powerful Mustangs that conquered car owners with their unbridled temper and five-liter engine.
Times change along with the preferences of drivers. Now, when buying a car, each car owner sets hundreds of requirements for his future vehicle. Someone puts power characteristics at the forefront. In principle, there is nothing surprising here, everyone wants to be able to quickly get to the right place.
Other drivers, on the contrary, want to get an economical and safe car for the whole family. Simply put, each person has their own tastes and goals. But there are things that have remained unchanged for many decades. And it is one of them that will be discussed further.
Car floor mats are a must-have accessory found in family wagons and ultra-fast coupes. This element of the interior of the car performs not only a decorative function, it largely ensures safety while driving.
Consider a specific situation that has happened to every driver at least once: the mat got under the pedal and prevented you from performing a certain action. It doesn't matter which lever was locked. In some situations on the road, picking up speed can be just as important as slowing down.
Important! If the rug is fixed in the right way, this will never happen.
What are the requirements for a quality car mat
In reality, there are not so many of them. But your safety while driving, as well as comfort depends on their implementation:
- the mat should fit snugly against the bottom of the machine;
- the mat should not interfere with the driver's feet to press the pedals;
- the mat must not be slippery.
The last parameter is especially important. The thing is that if the driver's foot slips at the wrong moment, this can lead to injury to the owner of the car, and to an accident.
Important! High-quality pads for the car have standard fasteners
Some manufacturers of car mats make them with Velcro. It is not recommended to buy such products. The fact is that such methods of fixing never provide proper security. In particularly dynamic moments, the litter can simply move out.
What are rugs
Volumetric models
There are many types of car mats. They can have a different texture, different design and be made from different materials. But 3-D models are the trend of the last few years.
They conquered motorists not only with their appearance, but also with reliability. The unique design allows you to achieve a good hold, and at the same time provides an excellent appearance.
Advice! Oddly enough, but such rugs for cars can be made even with your own hands. Nevertheless, in terms of reliability, they will be significantly inferior to serial products.
The main advantage of bulky car mats is that they provide much better upholstery protection by covering a much larger area.
Important! Do not buy voluminous car mats from an unknown manufacturer. The low price also speaks not in favor of this product.
The fact is that cheap 3-D mats usually have a very short lifespan. Their fastenings are made unreliably, if they exist at all. In addition, cheap material tends to break at the most inopportune time.
Volume rugs for the car are ideally suited both for summer, and for winter operation. Such an accessory provides high passenger comfort and at the same time guarantees safety while driving.
Modern materials from which high-quality car mats are made can protect the interior from dust. The fact is that the unique structure of the material does not allow dust particles to scatter around the cabin.
A voluminous car mat, with the right selection, can become the main decoration of the interior. It will easily emphasize the dignity of the salon or add new ones. Here are the most important advantages of these products, which were not mentioned earlier:
The most important advantage of these products is the relatively low price. All the above advantages are inherent only in high-quality products. Unscrupulous manufacturers refuse many of them, thereby making products not particularly suitable for use.
Polyurethane and rubber
Most often, it is from these two materials that car floor mats are made. Moreover, disputes between motorists about which material is better are still ongoing. It is worth recognizing that both the first and the second have both their advantages and disadvantages.
Let's start with polyurethane. Products made from this material contain polypropylene. To provide more flexibility, automotive accessory manufacturers add elastomers. The service life exceeds rubber analogues.
Unfortunately, you have to pay for everything. Especially for a long service life. That is why polyurethane products are more expensive than rubber counterparts. Their additional advantages can also be considered the absence of smell.
Attention! Rubber mats in the car are made from special layers. In fact, the rug is a rubber cake with well-compressed sheets. The thickness of each layer is the same.
The pattern on the rubber mat for the car is the same on the front side and on the back. Spikes act as a kind of protection against slipping. Rubber products contain a detailed description of all characteristics on the reverse side.
When discussing rubber and polyurethane mats, one cannot fail to mention the installation features of the latter. In most cases, this procedure is carried out by trimming.
You need to take a special knife and trim. Even if you do this in the service, it is not possible to achieve perfectly even edges in all cases. In this regard, rubber products are much more practical. During installation, they are completely formed. As a result, rugs have a much more attractive appearance.
Attention! Rubber counterparts have additional reinforcement along the sides.
Polyurethane options are not amenable to modification. They can't even be made thicker. But for the sake of justice, it is worth noting that they do not need it. Polyurethane is considered one of the most durable and reliable materials in its class.
Polyurethane car mats are virtually weightless. However, they are quite slippery, which makes them easy to move underfoot. Naturally, during extreme driving, this is simply unacceptable.
Products made of polyurethane contain plastic in their composition. Therefore, over time, they can lose flexibility. This usually happens in the cold. Rubber analogues are always plastic. It doesn't matter what the temperature is inside the cabin. They will retain their plasticity 24 hours a day.
Rubber mats are easy to straighten. This becomes possible due to the high elasticity. Their shape is easily restored after almost any deformation.
Pile mats for cars
In another way, they are also called textile. Their main advantage is a relatively low price. Unfortunately, they are not well suited to our climate. Therefore, these products can only be used in summer.
It is worth noting that textile car mats have a pleasant appearance. They can have different colors and are perfect for almost any salon. These products absorb moisture well.
Important! Textile car mats can be made from different materials. The choice of the latter depends on the rate of absorption of moisture and the period of operation.
High-quality tufted car mats can absorb about two liters of water. The best is considered exclusively Dutch raw materials. Products have a rubber base.
Pile mats cannot be used in winter due to the fact that snow and salt, which are in abundance on the winter sidewalks of Russia, are easily brought into the passenger compartment and destroy the structure of the litter. The result is more than deplorable. The car mat just can't stand the constant accumulation of moisture.
Important! Many drivers struggle with this problem by putting the car mat out to dry. They also use a brush to remove moisture.
Unfortunately, complete drying can only be done with the help of specialized equipment. Of course, if you do not have the opportunity to wait 5-7 days.
The result of using a pile car mat in the winter will be a real swamp under it. It is not necessary to say what harm it will do to the upholstery. In some cases, even drying and cleaning does not help - a complete replacement is needed.
Pile mats for cars lose their appearance very quickly. The places where the driver stands with his feet suffer the most. Even special pads under the pedals do not always help. Despite this, these beddings are ideal for warm weather. It should also be noted their decorative effect, which fits perfectly into almost any salon.
Universal or special
When choosing car mats, you need to consider that there are both universal and special models. The former are suitable for absolutely all car interiors, the latter are created for specific models.
The main drawback of universal mats for specific car models is that they lack an individual style that matches the corporate identity of the car manufacturer. Moreover, even if you carefully cut them out, they will not fit perfectly into the interior.
Universal car mats very often lack sides. This makes the design much less practical. In those products where this design feature is still there, it is more decorative than functional.
Important! An important advantage of universal car mats is their availability. You can buy products at any automotive store.
Special rugs are made for a specific model, which means they have a specific style and are fully consistent with the factory design. The choice of material depends solely on the preferences of the manufacturer.
Results
The choice of rug largely depends on the purpose of your purchase. The leaders in durability are polyurethane products for cars. By the summer, you can buy textile analogues, and for especially intense races, old proven tires are suitable. If you follow fashion, then your choice is 3-D rugs. They have the advantages of most of the options described.
Every car needs a master's care, and one of its manifestations is high-quality car mats. Their purpose is to reliably protect the soft floor covering and body surface from moisture ingress. Thanks to their presence, an atmosphere of additional coziness and comfort is created. In addition, floor mats can greatly simplify the process of cleaning the interior.
Not every driver knows the criteria that should be followed when choosing these very useful accessories. But in reality, everything is quite simple - it is enough to know the three basic requirements for car mats:
- There must be a reliable fixation of fabric and rubber mats, preventing them from moving during the ride. Failure to comply with this requirement negates the effectiveness of protecting the driver's dirty feet. In addition, loose mats constantly interfere with the normal control of the car's pedals, which can provoke an emergency.
- Even a slight slip of the driver's feet on it should be excluded by the mat covering, which can also have a negative impact on the safety of the car.
- The materials used to make rugs must be environmentally friendly. After all, they are constantly in the passenger compartment, and therefore the release of harmful fumes from carpets can harm the health of the driver and his passengers.
Varieties of car mats
Currently, there are many modifications of car mats. The most common are the following:
- rubber mats;
- polyurethane mats;
- rugs, in the manufacture of which textiles are used;
- velor mats;
- ultra-modern - 3D rugs.
Let us dwell in more detail on the advantages and disadvantages of each type of car mats.
Rubber mats
For the manufacture of these mats, only high-density rubber is used, the main component of which is high quality rubber. On the bottom surface of the mats, thanks to the use of a special technology, there are special spikes designed to prevent any slipping on the surface of the bottom. These products have a fairly large weight, and their surface is divided into a large number of separate sectors that contribute to the retention of dirt.
Rubber mats made in Europe do not have ribs. However, compensation for this shortcoming occurs due to special thickenings in those places where maximum wear is possible. Mats made in Taiwan have ribs, but they emit a very strong chemical smell, which, however, gradually disappears.
So, the advantages of rubber mats:
- The presence of a restrictive side (except for European models), so that water and dirt do not get into the interior of the car.
- Reliability of fixing the mat on the bottom of the car excludes the possibility of slipping, which is achieved due to the spikes or special ribs present on the back side.
Rubber car mats are very practical and affordable. Perhaps the only disadvantage of such rugs is the need from time to time to drain the accumulated water from them and wash off the dirt.
Polyurethane car mats
In the manufacture of such mats, polymers are used, due to which they are very light, elastic and flexible. These rugs almost always have sides, a "lazy" and a special jumper. Drawings on the outer and inner parts, as a rule, are identical, due to the technology of their manufacture. These rugs do not have spikes and corrugations that prevent slipping, and therefore they are practically not fixed on the cabin floor.
The positive characteristics of polyurethane rugs include the following:
- high wear resistance;
- well withstand the effects of acid, oil and others;
- excellent dielectric characteristics.
Textile rugs
The use of modern materials allows you to successfully deal with problems in the form of ingrained or frozen dirt. Cleaning textile mats is extremely simple - they are pulled out of the car and shaken well. In case of very strong contamination, it is sufficient to use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning. Such mats not only perfectly absorb moisture, but also keep it well in themselves, and you can get rid of it by simply drying it.
When choosing textile rugs, special attention should be paid to quality. Good rugs should have several rows of layers:
- pile;
- primary basis;
- fixing layer;
- base (secondary base).
The edges of the rug must be finished with an overlocker.
Velor rugs
Velor mats are ergonomic, hygroscopic and of high quality. The undoubted advantages of velor rugs include ease of cleaning, beauty and sophistication. The fleecy surface of the rug absorbs moisture very well and hides traces of dirt and dust.
If the base of the velor mat is rubberized, this prevents moisture from penetrating the bottom of the car.
The main advantages of velor rugs:
- relatively small weight;
- high level of environmental friendliness;
- dense texture of the material.
Rugs made using 3D technology
3D rugs are very popular among modern motorists. The main distinguishing features of the 3D rug are considered to be a high indicator of practicality and the effectiveness of protecting the interior from any kind of clogging, whether it be water, sand or dirt.
In terms of seasonal use, the 3D rug is universal - it has proven itself well both in dry summer weather and in rainy seasons. These mats have excellent fixation, which completely eliminates their movement along the bottom of the car. Environmentally friendly materials are used for their production.
